For one weekend only – 14/15th Sept 11-5pm
As part of the Todmorden Open Studios Popup
At Todmorden Therapy Space, White Rose Mill, of Rise Lane, OL147AA
Works by Simon Manfield – prints available to buy
for more info on Simon see https://simonmanfield.blogspot.com/
Copyright Simon Manfield
A quiet and peaceful therapy room. With space to talk, create, move and explore.
Sometimes used for art exhibitions and also available for hire.
Click to enlarge pictures.
This event has finished, but if you have been affected by someone’s suicide or threats to end their life you can contact me through this website to arrange a free phone call.
A free discussion group as part of the Pushing up Daisies festival 2019 May 16th at 7pm
at Todmorden Therapy, off Rise Lane, Todmorden. OL14 7AA
The death of someone close to us can be devastating and disorganising, and loss through suicide can be especially complicated.
If you have been affected by someones suicide or an attempted suicide, or if you yourself have had thoughts of ending your life, please join us for an open, non-judgemental discussion.
This group is for men* because they are a group at high risk of suicide and who may also find it hard to talk about such issues. Please join us to help explore or unburden, to illuminate and understand this complex issue. Whilst the subject is serious, we often find that humour and solidarity can make these sessions uplifting and life affirming.
*The group is advertised for men as there is a high risk among men, also because I have heard many men say they prefer a single sex group. I realise that this may feel off-putting or excluding to people who identify as other than men.
This essay summarises the ideas and research in a well written and researched book Suicidal: why we kill ourselves by Jesse Bering. It speaks of the effect a suicide can have on children, and in particular, how the information about the death is handled. It resists oversimplification and instead details subtleties, evolving narratives and different possibilities, using many examples and case histories. I found it a very good read.
Clicking this link should take you to the article on the AEON website which has many interesting essays on Psychology and more.
This link for info on a men’s discussion group
If you have been affected by someone’s suicide or threats to end their life you can contact me through this website and arrange a free phone call.
Archive info of event at Todmorden Therapy Space 2018
Saturday 8th September 2.30-4pm at Todmorden Therapy Space. White rose Mill, off Rise Lane, Todmorden. OL147AA
As an addition to the exhibition of Geoff Read’s collaborative portraits we will host an open discussion broadly around the theme of expressive arts and mental health. More specifically we are interested in how people use expressive activities to understand and tolerate difficulties in their lives.
This is part of the Todmorden Open Studios 2018 event where artists across the town open their studios and invite the public to see their work and workplaces.
Geoff’s work opens up the traditional role of artist into one of collaborator – he involves his subject in decisions about their portrait – and in some ways, this brings him closer to my role as a counsellor. He offers his skills and experience to facilitate expression, as do I. Non-verbal expression can be as important as words, so I was intrigued to see how Geoff’s work opens up these possibilities to people who may not consider themselves artists, or even creative.
A self-portrait can be a statement of identity and a message to the world about the subject’s experience. A person experiencing difficulties may really appreciate some help or assistance in making such a statement and through the process they may also get new perspectives or acquire strength , self-confidence and resilience.
We hope you can join us to share your ideas and experiences of how expression has helped you in your life, or how you might view your role as an artist, or how you use art and non-verbal mediums to understand your experiences, or how art can be used to impact or change society…
Geoff describes his approach and ethos very well here.
Feel free to contact me via the contact page for enquiries.
Transactional Analysis or TA is a great way of understanding yourself and how you relate to the rest of the world. It uses simple concepts to help you understand your personality. People use it in many ways, eg to work out why they keep getting into difficult relationships, or why relationships keep stalling. They find interpersonal issue that previously seemed unchangeable can become freer, less scary or less upsetting. Some people use it in work or schools, or even to change an entire organisation. It can go deep into childhood or you can stay in the here and now to analyse your own behaviour, thoughts and feelings.
My training was based in this model of understanding personality and human relationships developed by Eric Berne. Whilst I have added other models and approaches to my work, I still enjoy the simplicity and thoroughness of TA. There are 3 youtube videos by Theramin Trees which explain the basic concepts. Books on TA cover a huge range of topics, too numerous to mention.
A conversation between Pat Ogden of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute and Serge Prengel. I like the way Pat speaks about the body and I feel like my way of working has some crossover with hers (although I have not trained at her Institute). I also run workshops on Body Language and non-verbal expression (see The Human Cry)
https://mindfulpause.com/ogden/
This is one of a series of interviews or conversations as Serge prefers to call them. I think he is an excellent interviewer who skilfully summarises what he is hearing and often helps the subject to open up and share what needs to be shared. See also https://somaticperspectives.com/
I work from 2 places in Calderdale – White Rose Mill, Rise Lane, Todmorden OL147AA a ground floor space, see map below (toilet has one step, so not currently wheelchair accessible). Very close to Todmorden Train Station.
and Hebden Therapy Center, Wragley House, Valley Road, Hebden Bridge HX7 7BN – an upstairs space with a lift and accessible toilet.
Both places are quiet and comfortable with plenty of space to move around work in other ways than a traditional talking therapy, if wanted.
I have worked for many years with clients on the Autistic spectrum; firstly as a creative artist and then as a counsellor. I Currently work part-time with a Manchester based charity called Respect for all which provides free or low cost counselling for people on the spectrum and also for their siblings, carers, parents and partners. Due to the excessive stresses of Coronavirus we are also operating a telephone helpline for Greater Manchester residents. See the website for details.
It was through working as an artist with adults with learning disabilities that I realised that I wanted to train as a psychotherapist, thereby turning an aptitude into a qualified skill.
Many people, especially young people are receiving diagnoses of ASC with little or no understanding of how it might affect them. For some the diagnosis helps to explain some things, for some it can be a confusing or wounding experience. Counselling can be a good way of exploring these issues and gaining confidence and self-understanding.
I want to share this article because I enjoyed it and also because I think the current debate about sexual harassment is an important one. Serge Prengle is an excellent moderator of discussions and his conversations series is a useful resource for those wishing to learn about body/somatic psychotherapies.
She says; “In cases of abuse the shame that should be with the perpetrator gets transferred to the person who has been abused.” It’s a simple but important thing, a helpful reminder that part of the abuse is this co-creating of shame. This involves or invests the vulnerable party in the creation of a protector for the abuser. It maintains and reinforces the power imbalance.
Then she goes on to say sometimes there is an attempt to return this shame – for the abused person to try to shame the abuser. Which, whilst understandable and perhaps important, rarely helps either party. My question as a therapist is often – what will be helpful?